Hi All,

Just thought I'd post up on a job I did yesterday.

The other day my indicator relay started making rapid ticking sounds as I drove along. The indicators were working normally when activated, but when they were all off, the relay was going haywire.

I read on here that it's a common problem and that many people put up with it and the common solution is to buy a new stalk.

I stripped my steering column down and removed the switch. I was able to replicate the problem with the switch (still wired in) sitting in my hand. I noticed that as it was doing it, small wisps of smoke were coming from the switch, indicating that there was a short there somewhere and something was getting hot. Because of this, I'd advise that if yours is doing the same, to get it looked at. The last thing you want is an electrical fire in the dash!

I pulled the switch to bits (6 plastic clips on the casing) and inspected the various switch mechanisms. The indicator switch has a spring-loaded pin at the end of the stalk, which runs in a contact track inside the switch. There was a trace of grease inside this track and I noticed that the pin had worn slightly along the sides where it contacts the track.

I surmised that particles from the shaved off contact pin had impregnated the grease to a level where it was now conductive and was shorting during operation. I thoroughly cleaned the contacts by wiping them with spirits then a dry cloth.

After reassembly the switch now works perfectly again and I am unable to replicate the problem at all.

If anyone is suffering the same issue, then it might be worth stripping, cleaning and reassembling the switch before forking out 40 quid for a new stalk

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1999 GTi6 (Cherry Red Phase 2.5)
2001 Lotus Sport Exige S1 (CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW BADLY I'VE RUINED IT!)
Former Moonstone pilot back in a GTi6

Thanks for the kind comments, glad I was able to help someone else... it's a cheap and easy fix to a common problem.

Incidentally, the problem hasn't resurfaced on my car since I did it in early April

If only fixing my Exige was as easy!

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1999 GTi6 (Cherry Red Phase 2.5)
2001 Lotus Sport Exige S1 (CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW BADLY I'VE RUINED IT!)
Former Moonstone pilot back in a GTi6

Had same problem. Just replaced the stalk. Make sure you use ph3 for ph3 and ph2 for ph2 etc otherwise I believe you may see the same problem

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JAMMA "M44YHW" MAYHEW

LOSE WEIGHT NOW - ASK ME HOW -
NUTRI-FIX

GTi6 LPG, The best of both worlds!

2006: 1997 R reg 306 1.4 Miami - Diablo Red - DEAD
2007: 1999 V reg 306 1.4 Meridian - Diablo Red - SOLD
2007-09: 1998 S reg 306 GTi6 - Diablo Red - DEAD
2009-10: 1998 R reg Corsa 1.2 - Blue - SOLD
2010-13: 2001 Y reg 306 GTi6 LPG - Diablo Red - DEAD
2013 - 2013: 2000 X reg GTi6 LPG - Moonstone Blue - DEAD
2013 - current: 2001 X reg GTi6 LPG - Diablo Red
]FOR SALE[/b]

"I LIVE FOR THE 306"

Rikky has kindly created a more detailed document along with illustrations of the job, so I've removed this from the FAQ and will keep it in Electrical as a backup.

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"Supercharged - 454.1bhp/317.5lb/ft"
Peugeot 306 GTi-6
2000 (X), Moonstone